Welcome to the AAT, the UK’s leading qualification and membership body for accounting staff. This page is about who we are, the qualifications we offer, and how we support our members.

• Who we are
• What is an accounting technician?
• Our qualifications
• Our members
• Working with employers to develop their staff
• How we work
• History of the AAT

Who we are

The AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians) is the UK’s leading qualification and membership body for accounting staff. We award around 90% of all vocational qualifications in accounting, and are sponsored by the professional accounting bodies CIPFA, ICAEW, CIMA and ICAS. We are based in London, UK.

The AAT has over 120,000 members in more than 90 countries worldwide. Our members include students, people working in accountancy, and self-employed business owners. 

We support our members through more than 450 AAT approved training providers across the world. We also have an extensive branch network where members can access support and training, and meet other AAT members in their local area.

What is an accounting technician?

An accounting technician is someone who has qualified with the AAT.

Accounting technicians work at all levels of finance, depending on the level of their career. Some accounting technicians work as accounts clerks, others go on to become managing directors or finance directors of well known companies.

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Our qualifications

Our vocational qualifications are designed to give our students practical accounting skills that they can use in the workplace. We assess understanding and ability through a combination of exams and skills tests.  These include

• The AAT Accounting Qualification
• The Certificate in Payroll Administration (QCF)
  
• The AAT Level 2 Award in Bookkeeping (QCF)

We have recently introduced computer based exams (CBE) for some qualifications. CBEs run throughout the year, allowing student members to take their exams on a computer, in a supervised environment. CBEs help students to progress through our qualifications at their own pace, rather than being restricted by exam sittings.

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Our members

There are three categories of AAT membership:

• Full (MAAT)
• Fellow (FMAAT)
• Member in practice (MIP)

Each category depends on

• how long a member has worked in accountancy.
• the status the member has achieved.
• whether the member is running their own business.

All AAT members commit to continuing their professional development (CPD)  with the support of the AAT. This ensures that their skills are kept up-to-date.

Several AAT members have set up their own practices and become self-employed.

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Working with employers to develop their staff

We use our expertise and experience to work in partnership with a wide range of employers across the private and public sectors, through our Accredited Employer scheme.

The Accredited Employer initiative recognises employers who support their staff’s professional development in both their AAT studies and CPD. Current AAT accredited employers include KPMG and Morrisons, as well as a host of smaller businesses.   

Our Accounting Qualification offers a vocational progression route to all the UK’s charted and certified accountancy qualifications (including those of ACCA).

It is sponsored by the professional accounting bodies CIPFA, ICAEW, CIMA and ICAS.

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How we work

Our governing Council ensures the AAT runs effectively, and decides on the organisation’s overall direction. Members of Council have professional expertise in accountancy, represent our members’ interests, and ensure that their needs are met. All Council members are non paid volunteers and give up their time to support the Association. 

The AAT’s Chief Executive, Jane Scott Paul, is responsible for the organisation’s  day-to-day work. Our 145 AAT staff look after our 120,000 members based all over the world.

In 2009 we won a Best Companies award as part of their Employee Engagement nominations and this award was retained in 2010. Best Companies is the name behind the Sunday Times’ list of 100 best companies to work for.

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History of the AAT

The AAT was set up in 1980 by merging two accountancy bodies

• The Institute of Accounting Staff (IAS)
• The Association of Technicians in Finance and Accounting (ATFA)

At the time it had 5,995 members and 19,405 students.

Since then, the AAT has gained more than 120,000 members, and expanded its qualifications and branch network into 90 countries. The branches are run in the same way as they are in the UK, with volunteers giving up their time to support other AAT members in their professional development. 

CIPFA, ICAEW, CIMA and ICAS have continued to support the AAT.

These bodies recognise the skill and aptitude of AAT qualified people by offering them attractive opportunities for further progression.